How to Cut Vinyl on a Cricut (with Video Tutoria) – make your own labels for jars & more!

Instructions

Watch my video for more detailed instructions and to see exactly how to perform each step.

Step 1: Create the text for your first label in Design Space

1. Open design space and create a new canvas which is where going to be creating and designing our vinyl label.

2. Click on the T on the left hand side which is our "text" tool to create text.

3. Type whatever text you want on your label.

4. Click align center if you want your text centered. it will automatically adjust left.

5. Next, Pick your font. I suggest picking your font before you start working on spacing or sizing, because the font will impact the size and the shape of your text.

(If you've got Cricut access, you'll have access to a lot of the fonts here for free.)

When you're creating a vinyl label, you probably want a font that's fairly thick so that it won't be too delicate and it cuts cleanly.

6. Next adjust the height and width of your text so that it fits the object you plan to put it on. You do this by changing the numbers next to the W and H on the top row (roughly in the middle). Watch my video to see how to use the aspect ratio lock to your advantage to get exactly the look you are looking for and still fit within the size constraints.

Step 2: Create a Frame for your Vinyl Label (Optional)

Now this next step is definitely optional but I like to add a frame when I'm working with a larger container or bottle. It helps me make the label bigger and more substaintail without making the text overly bid.

You can add a frame by clicking on Images, searching for "frame" and picking something from that list.

I'll show you how to make a basic but custom one though. Once you know the basics the sky is the limit!

1. Click on "Shapes" on the left hand side and select square

2. Click on the lock icon at the top to unlock the aspect ratio. This will let you stretch your square into a rectangle.

3. You can now change the color of the square to something else to help you see it better when it's with the text but that's optional.

4. Now right click on the square and choose "Send backwards". Then slide it behind your text and roughly center it.

5. Now you're going to want to stretch your square/rectangle so that it's the shape you want and so that the edge of it is where you want the outer edge of your frame to be size wise. You stretch it by clicking the lock icon to unlock it and then stretch the four-way arrows on the bottom right of your image.

6. Now right click on the rectangle and copy. Then right click again and click paste.

7. Center your second shape with the other rectangle and stretch it again so that it's smaller and proportioned the same as the bigger shape. The outer edge of your second shape should line up with where you want the inner edge of your frame to be. Doesn't need to be perfectly centered but close. Watch my video for a visual on this step...

8. The next step here is going to be to slice it. Separate all the pieces and move the text out of the way. We do this because (1) we don't want to slice the text out of anything and (2) the slicing tool only works on two layers at a time!

Once you move the texts out of the way, you can line up your boxes and select both squares. Align the to be centered and click slice on the bottom right. This will slice the small shape out of the bigger one.

9. Now your two shapes will actually turn into three. Seperate all three pieces and delete the two identical smaller shapes. You'll be left with your frame!

10. Now center your text and the frame. Select both items and click on align and then center.

11. Attach the two pieces by selecting both and then clicking attach on the bottom right. This makes sure that your Cricut cuts it out as one label rather than treating the text as one cut, and the label as another.

Note: The reason we do attach instead of weld is because weld is permanent. You can't undo it later. With attach we can do detach later if we want or need to. This is especially useful if you plan on making multiple labels and you need to detach and edit the text for the next label.

Make certain to watch my video tutorial that shows this entire process step by step! The visual is very helpful and I go into a bit more detail on some of the steps if you're new to this.

Step 3: Prepare for cutting

1. Before you start cutting, you need to be certain that it fits to how you want it cut. Double check the item you want to put your label on and make sure you have the rigth label size in mind.

2. Select your label in design space and adjust your label size by changing the value at the top for either width or height. I recommend keeping the aspect ratio locked at first to see how it turns out. For for example, you need your label to be 2" by 4" but when you change the width to 2" your hight is 5" you can either unlock aspect ratio and see if you like how it looks when you squish it to 2x4. Alternatively, you can leave the aspect ratio locked and change your height to 4" and your width will just be a bit more narrow than 2". In my case I stretched mine and liked it.

Step 4: set your material and tools

1. Click make it and check that everything looks right. Your frame should be connected to your text like it did on your canvas..

2. Click continue.

3. On the next screen, you'll need to select your material. Click on browse all material, and then you're going to search for vinyl and then select your vinyl of choice. Make sure you choose a type of vinyl that best matches the vinyl you're using. I used "premium vinyl". If you're using an Explore Air 2, you can either select vinyl using your dial, or turn your dial to "custom" and then select the vinyl type from within Design Space.

Note: I prefer to leave my Explore Air 2 dial to "custom" so that Design Space will always prompt me to select the material. Otherwise, I sometimes forge to change the dial.

Note: If you accidentally set your dial to the wrong material, like say "cardstock" it will cut your vinyl all the way through. When that happens, it's usually unusable and you'll need to throw that out and cut more vinyl which can waste time and money - so always check your material settings1
4. Then check the tools it says you'll need. Chances are it will tell you that you need your fine tip blade. This is the standard blade that comes with your machine. If you've never changed your blade, then you likely already have that blade in place! It's good to get used to checking which blade Design Space says you need.

Step 5: Load and cut your vinyl

1. Grab the vinyl you want to use. This can be a vinyl roll or sheets. Either is fine. I like to use permanent vinyl usually but sometimes I'll use removable vinyl if it's a label I know i'll want to remove and replace later.

2. Cut your vinyl to a size that's a bit bigger than your label. I like to cut about one inch bigger all around. So for a 3x4 label, i'll cut a 4x5 piece of vinyl.

3. Place your vinyl on your standard grip cutting mat. Make sure that you put your vinyl in the same place the label shows on the mat in Design Space. It's likely the top left corner. Press down on the mat well to make sure it's really sticking to the mat.

Note: Do not remove the backing from your vinyl. You want to place your vinyl on the mat with the vinyl backing sticking to the mat and the vinyl layer itself facing up.

4. Feed your mat into the machine by lining it up and clicking on the double flashing arrows. If the arrows aren't flashing then Design Space may not be ready and you'll need to check Design Space.

5. Next click on the flashing Cricut icon button. That's the big "C". It could take a second or two to start flashing so just wait until it does. If it doesn't start flashing, check Design Space.

Your Cricut machine will start cutting your vinyl!

6. When it stops cutting, click the double flashing arrows again to unload your mat.

Once the vinyl is done cutting, it's time to start weeding.

Step 6. Weed and apply your vinyl

1. Peel the excess vinyl off the outside of your label carefully.

You'll want to be very careful as you go around each letter.

2. Take your weeding tool and careful pull the extra vinyl off in those harder areas. You'll poke the weeding tool into a spot you want to remove and then carefully pull back to remove it.

3. Now cut a piece of transfer tape that's a bit bigger than your label. Remove the transfer tape from the backing and place it carefully over your weeded vinyl label.

4. Use your scraper to make sure that your transfer tape is really sticking to your transfer tape. Sometimes you need to scrape across both sides.

5. Now fold back about a half inch of your vinyl backing to expose a little of your label but not all of it.

6. Align your label with the object you want to stick it too. Since only a small part of the trasnfer tape and vinyl is exposed it will be easy to reposition if you need to. When you're satisfied with the placement, press it down and scrape on the exposed area.

7. Now using your scraper, scrape across your label while pulling back the backing slowly. This should press the vinyl into place without any (or few) bubbles. You can then scrape across it some more to be sure it's on well. Watch my video tutorial for more tips or to see this in action!

8. Carefully peel back your transfer tape and admire your work!

Tip! To make sure your label sticks especailly well, clean the object you want to put the label on with a little rubbing alcohol first!